Is RFID better than bar codes?
RFID is different than bar codes, not necessarily “better” or “worse”. These two different technologies have different applications, which may sometimes overlap. The big difference is bar codes are line-of-sight technology. That is, a scanner has to “see” the bar code to read it, which means people usually have to physically orient the bar code towards a scanner for it to be read. If a barcode label is ripped, soiled or absent, there is no way to scan an item. Also, standard bar codes identify only the manufacturer and product, not a unique item. As an example, the bar code on one milk carton is identical to every other, making it impossible to identify which one might expire first. RFID, by contrast, is highly flexible and offers speed of movement because it does not require line of sight or physical orientation. RFID tags can be read as long as they are within range of a reader.
